Innovation occurs at intersections: "The spaces where different disciplines, cultures or specialized domains of knowledge meet." 1

Varo's artistry is a vivid illustration of the creativity unleashed in intersecting disciplines. She wanted to know how and why the universe functioned, and looked to dreams, astrology, and science for inspiration. She set up hypotheses and explored them in paint, opening the door to new ways of envisioning nature and the self.

Varo grew up in Madrid, encouraged by her father, an engineer, to pursue the artistic talent that she exhibited as a young girl. Her paintings reflect the interest in math and science learned working at her father's side. Varo's paintings are said to have accurately depicted principles of physics discovered years after she imagined them in her art. (click the picture to see a collection of Varo's work)In Celestial Pablum (papilla estellar 1958) pictured here, a woman seated in a tower floating among the clouds grinds star matter into a pablum that she feeds to a crescent moon in a cage, thereby gaining access to celestial realms.

" we will foster diverse creative and imaginative economies.. ....vibrant places... ...that allow our businesses and workers the best opportunities to innovate and succeed..."President Barack Obama, Conference of Mayors, February 2009